ZHENGZHOU, China, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ten thousand athletes are expected to run in the Zhengkai Marathon on March 25 in central China's Henan province, organizers said on Wednesday.

The Zhengkai Marathon, first held in 2007, is the only marathon race in China that connects two ancient Chinese capitals, Zhengzhou and Kaifeng.

The men's and women's champions will get 20,000 US dollars if they finish within 2 hours and 13 minutes (men) and 2 hours and 32 minutes (women), according to the organizers. Otherwise the prize will be 12,000 dollars.

Titus Tuwei from Kenya won the men's title at the 2017 Zhengkai Marathon in 2:10:14, and Ethiopian Gebeyahu Tigist Memuye won the women's title in 2:27:39.

"[The] Zhengkai Marathon has been held for 11 years and the number of runners has increased year by year. It has become a famous marathon in China," said Liu Bin, the executive director of the Zhengkai Marathon.

10,000 athletes will run half marathon and 29,000 runners will take part in the 5 km race.